8 Monsoon Riding Tips to Keep you Safe This Rainy Season
8 Monsoon Riding Tips to Keep you Safe This Rainy Season
![Monsoon Riding Tips Monsoon Riding Tips](/images/default-source/two-wheeler-insurance-page-images/monsoon-biking-destinations.jpg)
For ardent bikers, the monsoons are a great time to go on trips. From the beautiful sceneries to the thrilling adventurous rides, there are many exciting things that a monsoon bike trip offers. This is precisely why more and more people go on bike trips during the rainy season. If you are one of them and have already planned your monsoon biking destination, we are here to help you with some safety tips. While it is very thrilling to go on adventurous rides that include risk, it is also important to take all the safety measures into account. From getting an insurance policy for bike to ensuring your vehicle is in top-notch condition, there is a lot you can do to safely complete the monsoon biking expedition. Read on to know more.
1. Wait for the rains to settle in
Your eagerness to leave for the trip is understandable, but it is highly advisable for you to wait till the rains settle in properly. During the initial days of the monsoons, the residual grease and oil on the road start to wash off. As a result, the roads are very slippery. It takes a few good showers to completely wash out the old grease and oil. This is precisely why you should wait till the lashing rains clean the roads and make them safe for riding your two-wheeler. If you go on a bike trip after the very first shower of the year, your bike will be susceptible to skidding and slipping, all of which can have disastrous results.
2. Maintain safe distance
It is very important to maintain a safe distance from the vehicles around when riding. The rains make riding/driving challenging for most people. And don't forget, there are some inexperienced drivers around at all times! Even when you are confident and skilled in handling your vehicle, the person in front of you may not be. If he comes across a challenging roadblock and hits the brake suddenly, you will be in a vulnerable position too. Sudden brakes while cruising at a high speed on a wet road can lead to a major accident. Hence, maintain a safe distance and keep yourself protected from this trouble that commonly happens on highways during the monsoons.
3. Avoid splashing water
It can be a lot of fun to go over a puddle and spray the water out while you ride your bike. However, this is a dangerous practice that you should stay away from. First of all, you can have a serious bike crash if the pothole under the puddle is deeper than you expected. You can never know how bad the pothole is, so it is best avoided. Then, taking your bike into the water can lead to water seepage into the spark plug or even the engine in a bad case. If that happens, your bike will break down in the middle of the road and hamper your trip. You will have to call the insurer and make a claim on the insurance policy for bike, which is quite unavoidable. And finally, basic biking protocol tells you to be courteous to people around and not splash anyone, so always be a true biker in spirit.
4. Get the best riding accessories
It is common knowledge that a helmet keeps you safe when you ride. Yet, many people refrain from investing in a high-quality helmet. Do not make this error, especially when leaving for a monsoon riding journey. Invest in the best and the safest helmet as that directly keeps you protected. Look for one with the anti-fog feature, as that gives an extra layer of protection. Also, get a good pair of shoes along with a good jacket that keeps you warm and dry. Get the gear in your size as wearing oversized riding gear can be uncomfortable and dangerous too.
5. Keep the headlights on
The rainy weather makes it difficult to spot the vehicles on the road. This is applicable to you as well as to the other motorists around. Hence, riding your bike with the headlight on can reduce the chance of crashes and keep you safe while riding during the monsoons. It is an easy thing to do but has many positive repercussions. Just ensure you don't have a high beam headlight on, as that can affect the vision of another motorist around you.
6. Get the bike serviced
You need to get your bike serviced regularly, more so when the rains arrive. Rainwater can be harmful to your bike, especially if some seeps into the vehicle. Apart from hampering the spark plug and the engine, the water can lead to rust in the chain, damage to the outer panel of the bike and also result in other issues such as a wet seat which can make you uncomfortable while riding. This is why you need to get the bike serviced more frequently at this time of the year to ensure the existing issues are addressed. When your bike is in a good condition and you are comfortable riding it, the safety quotient automatically increases.
7. Check the tyres
Whether you are going on a long road trip on the highway or just taking your bike to the office amid traffic, the tyres of your bike should be in perfect condition. The monsoons often leave the bike tyres damaged, so ensure they are in a flawless state before you start the journey. A flaw in the tyres can be very dangerous so get them checked on a daily basis.
8. Research the route beforehand
The monsoons commonly lead to traffic jams, roadblocks, and congestion. This is why you need to research the route and find some alternative options before you begin your journey. Look for bylanes and shortcuts that can take you to the destination faster, without getting stuck on the road for hours. This is especially helpful for the daily commuters, as the traffic snarls mainly happen on the busy, city roads. It can happen on a highway too, so research alternative routes even when you look to go on a long bike trip this monsoon.
Conclusion
As you can clearly see from the points mentioned above, riding safely during the rains is quite achievable. You just need to be disciplined and careful while following the rules and protocols. Invest in an insurance policy for bike and keep the vehicle protected. Remember the tips mentioned above and enjoy your monsoon bike rides without any worries or hassles.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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